Since Belle regained consciousness, she had remained silent, her gaze fixed upon the window, lost in thought from the moment the sun set until it rose again. The mansion seemed to return to its usual rhythm, as though the near tragedy had never occurred. What was more, Quinn had yet to apologize for his wrongs and had not come to check on her since that day.
Though Mia was frustrated by Quinn's neglect, she took some solace in the fact that Belle was left undisturbed, allowed to do as she pleased in her isolation.
Mia tried numerous ways to lift Belle's spirits, but none of her attempts succeeded. Eventually, she resigned herself to giving Belle the space she needed, hoping that when the time was right, Belle would be ready to speak.
*Knock knock* As Mia tended to Belle's medications, a knock at the door broke the silence. Mia left Belle's side to answer it.
"Your Grace!" Mia exclaimed, surprised to find him standing before Belle's room. It had been days since he had shown any interest in her well-being, yet now he appeared to be dressed as though he were preparing for an outing.
"Is she awake?" He inquired, surprisingly polite, though his tone remained detached.
"Yes, come in," Mia responded, stepping aside to allow him entry.
Belle, however, remained by the window, not sparing him even a glance. Quinn felt his irritation rise, but he was not in the mood for confrontation, so he simply said, "I am leaving for the Castle with Sofia. The King wishes to see you, but you need not come if you do not wish to. I merely came to inform you."
With that, he made for the door, but his progress was halted when he heard Belle's calm voice say, "I am going with you."
It was the first time since that day that Belle spoke, and Mia could not help but notice the sharpness in her tone. Something about it sent a ripple of concern through her, this was no longer the same Belle. With such an attitude, Mia feared that something more profound was brewing in Belle's mind.
"Mia, prepare me. We shall not keep the Duke waiting," Belle commanded.
Mia, though uneasy, complied, hurrying to help her.
Quinn, taken aback by her tone and the sudden calmness of her demeanor, found it unsettling. Yet he attributed it to the lingering effects of her recent torments and chose not to dwell on it further.
…
The journey to the Castle took place in separate carriages, Quinn and Sofia in one, and Belle alone in the other. It gave Belle time to gather her thoughts, her mind focused and quiet.
Upon reaching the Castle, they were escorted to the King's guest chamber, where they waited in silence until he arrived. Belle showed no reaction to the affectionate exchange between Quinn and Sofia.
"My sincerest apologies for keeping you waiting," the King said with a chuckle as he entered, his eyes lingering on Belle for a moment before quickly averting them.
"Your apology is not sufficient," Quinn replied, and the two men embraced warmly, laughing heartily as old friends.
Belle had heard of the close bond between the King and the Duke but witnessing it in person was another matter entirely.
"And who is this?" The King raised an eyebrow, though it was clear he knew exactly who she was, his question a mere formality.
"Sofia, my new wife," he introduced, to which the King murmured, "Ah," and greeted Sofia warmly.
"You are the one responsible for my friend's happiness of late. I thank you for caring for him," the King said with genuine appreciation.
"Do not mention it, Your Majesty," Sofia replied, blushing deeply from ear to ear.
The King then turned his gaze to Belle. "It seems the Duchess is not inclined to greet the King?" He remarked, eyeing her with curiosity. He observed her gloomy demeanor despite the fact she had been rescued. Her mood seemed almost lifeless, and it caused him to wonder if rescuing her had been the right choice. She appeared almost like a ghost.
"Your Majesty, please pardon my rudeness. I did not wish to interrupt you," Belle responded, stepping closer with a demure bow. "I am truly grateful for your help and apologize for not expressing my thanks sooner." She smiled, though it did not quite reach her eyes.
"I had hoped to see you in better spirits," the King remarked, noting her appearance, and it was then that Belle finally raised her gaze to meet him.
There was something about him that reminded her of the Duke. His dark eyes, though calm, carried a hint of something hidden beneath. His neatly styled hair and well-formed features gave him a striking presence, almost like one of those perfect models one saw in portraits.
"Have I suddenly captured the interest of the Duchess?" The King teased, snapping his fingers in front of her face with a mischievous grin, which Quinn noted, though he said nothing.
"The Duchess is likely intimidated by you," Quinn interjected, his voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and protectiveness.
"If you do not mind, Your Majesty, I would like to propose a toast," Belle said suddenly, surprising everyone in the room.
"What are you doing?" Quinn asked, his tone laced with irritation. He had already instructed her to behave appropriately, and now it seemed she was intent on provoking him once more.
"Do not speak to a lady in such a manner, Quinn," the King admonished, shaking his head. He then turned to Belle with a warm smile. "Of course, let us toast."
Belle poured wine into the cups of Quinn and Sofia and then handed the King his own. "To new beginnings," she said, lifting her cup. The King smiled and clinked his cup with hers.
However, in an unfortunate misstep, Belle accidentally spilled wine onto Sofia's dress.
"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry, Duke Quinn. Please, see Sofia out," Belle said, feigning concern, her gaze full of fake sympathy for Quinn. He had no choice but to escort Sofia out of the room, rather than reprimand Belle.
Once they were gone, Belle exhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them again.
"Mission successful," the king murmured. "Now, tell me what you want." And urged.
Belle smirked. It seemed he wasn't as foolish as she had initially thought. She had indeed chosen wisely.
"It appears I am still poor at feigning my emotions," she said, turning toward him and offering a genuine smile.
"Some of us are simply too clever," he responded, matching her smile with one of his own.
"I want you to marry me, Your Majesty, and aid me in seeking my revenge against the Duke and those who have wronged me. In exchange, I shall bear you an heir before you help me," she said, her voice steady and full of purpose.